Three-way Communication: Athletes, Coaches, & Parents
As outlined in the previous United Futsal University articles, coaches and parents have a significant influence on youth athlete development. During the process of monitoring and evaluating performance, effective three-way communication between the coach, player, and parents is essential. The articles of this series were constructed with interview responses from Dr. Juliana Meireles, United Futsal University Athlete Experience Manager and Sports Psychologist. Chris Rael, MA in Media Studies, contributed as writer and editor of the four-part series.
In the third article of the Coaches and Parents series, how to manage this three-way network is addressed.
Communication Between Actors
During the player development process, creating an open line of communication between coaches and parents can ensure that both, and particularly the latter, are positive influences on a child's athletic development. Depending on the age of a player, parents may serve as the primary contact for tracking progress. If a player is young then it may be best to also include parents during discussions of goals and expectations. However, this is not to say that older players do not require parents during such conversations. Every situation along with the relationships between all actors should be monitored independently.
When a coach and parent discuss player development, season goals, expectations, or training adjustments, clear communication is essential.
“It is important for coaches to set standards at the beginning of the season,” said Meireles. “Being clear on the goals and expectations is key.”
Juliana Meireles
As a coach, it is equally important to understand the impact of ineffective communication. When communication is not done properly it opens for confusion and misjudgment. For example, if a player is not trying hard enough at training and the coach decides to bench him or her without communicating the decision; the parents might misjudge the coach's abilities or even intentions. When everything is clear for each actor, they might disagree on things; however, parents will be less likely to misinterpret the coach’s actions.
Parents are responsible for evaluating and discussing their child’s development with the coach. In particular, monitoring the motivation, self-esteem, and athletic as well as psychological development of a child can assist the coach with evaluation. This allows for coaches and parents to mutually understand the development process and progress of a youth athlete.
The player is also vitally instrumental. He or she communicates with the coach and parents that monitor performance. A player should share consistent information with both actors in order for them to accurately evaluate his or her development.
Thus, all three actors are mutually reliant on each other. The more aligned each of their perceptions, attitudes, and expectations are, the more likely the child is to have a positive athletic experience. Acknowledging the roles that each actor serves will ultimately benefit the player development process.
Three-way Communication Structure
It is important to outline how communication should be structured in this three-way relationship. Dr. Meireles outlined the details below:
“The coach is the leader of this process. He or she should take the initiative to involve parents and players. On one hand, a democratic coach will include players and coaches during assessments and setting goals. The benefit of setting goals democratically is that the majority agree with the outcome of the discussion. This puts the coach in the position of sharing the consequences and responsibilities of such goals. The downside of it is that the majority of parents are not educated enough on the game, sports pedagogy, and sports psychology, which can lead to dangerous outcomes. On the other hand, a more autocratic coach will centralize the decisions on himself or herself. Either way, it is very important that the coach communicates well with everyone involved so the plan is known.”
Juliana Meireles
Dr. Meireles suggests it is ideal when a coach has enough knowledge and confidence to listen to a parent’s ideas and then explains all the reasons why, if necessary, an alternative approach should be considered. If a coach truly listens to parents, thinks it through, and comes up with a great solution that convinces everyone, then he or she is being democratic but is also taking the leadership role expected by a knowledgeable coach.
Parent Impact on Player-Coach Relationships
As stated in United Futsal University’s previous article, parent behaviors can impact a player’s athletic experience. In regard to the three-way network discussed in this article, a parent can compromise trust between a player and coach.
A parent should treat the relationship between a player and coach with full discretion. A coach spends countless hours attempting to establish rapport with a player. Parents should acknowledge how interactions with their children can influence trust in the player-coach relationship. In particular, the impact that parents have on a player’s confidence in the coach’s development plan or game strategy needs to be considered.
The primary example of relationship disruption is when a parent attempts to instruct (or coach) from the sideline. Prior to the match, a coach has communicated the game plan to his or her team. Vocal parents from the sideline interrupt the strategy outlined and cause players to question the coach’s competence, and thus game plan. In drastic circumstances, rather than compromise team unity and player development, Dr. Meireles suggests the change of coach or team.
“The more cohesive a team the better,” said Meireles. “Having ‘multiple coaches’ can be confusing and negative on a player's performance. If the parents don't trust the coach’s plan or knowledge, it is definitely better to find another coach or club rather than trying to compete with him or her from the sideline.”
Juliana Meireles
Moreover, disruption by parents can deteriorate the player-coach relationship. Managing numerous youth athletes and convincing them of a game plan is a challenge in itself. If a parent starts coaching from the sideline without knowing any of the plans, he or she might instruct the player incorrectly. If the player continues to not follow the game plan because of alternative advice from a parent, the coach will become frustrated because his or her leadership is not affecting the player's actions. This can ultimately cause a tear in the player-coach relationship.
Avoiding Disruption with Clear Communication
To avoid this, a coach should have a clear understanding of the goals set and the impact that he or she has on assisting players to the outlined benchmarks. The coach needs to clearly communicate the development strategy with the player and parents. As mentioned in the article on coaches, age and skill level should be considered in a player development plan.
“A good coach should know what he or she wants the team to achieve tactically as well as technically—the game plan,” said Meireles. “And this good coach should also know which stage of development his or her team and players are at and where he or she wants them to be in the future.”
Juliana Meireles
These two plans should be the guidance of everyone's actions. A team is built based on a coach's game and development plan. Understanding the above factors, gaining trust between players and parents, and communicating the development process and outlined goals are essential functions of a youth sports coach. Adopting and committing to these responsibilities will limit disruptions by parents and allow for players to progress.
Clear, concise, and direct communication is essential within this three-person network. The coach, player, and parents should all be on the same page during the development process. Although the coach leads discussion and evaluation, open lines of communication between all actors need to be available in order to collectively determine if the desired goals are met. Lastly, avoiding disruption between communication lines is key. The last thing that should happen is providing a youth athlete with contradicting directions. Coaches and parents must acknowledge their mutual interest in the player development process.
In the next and final article of the Coaches and Parents series, the lack of sports participation will be discussed. View Article 1: Sports Psychology & Youth Coaches. View Article 2: Sport Psychology & Parents.
Follow the link below for the full United Futsal University course titled Sport Psychology: Practical Implications.
